The Russian elites are anxious and worried because the situation in Russia does not look very rosy. The ruble is weakening. The shock of the failed Wagner Rebellion has yet to fade. And anger at the disappointing course of the war in Ukraine is growing not only among the elites, but also within the security services. Hardliners demand the resignation of two key Kremlin figures and want the war to be waged more aggressively.
The elites are very nervous and frustrated ahead of next year’s presidential election. Putin (70) then wants to secure his fifth term in office until 2028.
The Kremlin’s strategy is to present Putin as a popular leader in control, both domestically and internationally, Bloomberg reports. Regional elections will already be held on 10 September and then the campaign will really start.
The incomprehension of Putin’s weak response to the uprising of the Wagner group, however, is still high among many high-ranking officials. Wagner boss Prigozhin apparently just got away with it, which means that new uprisings cannot be ruled out, the elites fear.
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But the then demands of Prigozhin, who called for the resignation of Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov, have not fallen on the deaf ears of other hardliners and intelligence officials and remain dormant. And now they are emphatically emerging again.
Discharge and mobilization
What they want is an even more aggressive action by Russia in Ukraine and a further escalation of the war. In addition, they have two more important requirements, five sources have confirmed to ‘Bloomberg’. For example, they want Defense Minister Shoigu and Chief of Staff Gerasimov to be removed from their positions, just as Prigozhin also demanded during his uprising.
In addition, they ask that a large-scale mobilization be announced. Virtually all Russian men of military age should be sent to the front.
But Putin does not seem to give in to the pressure for the time being. Shoigu and Gerasimov remain in post. “Putin himself does not feel weakened. He is convinced that he is stronger than ever, he is confident and full of optimism, even full of euphoria,” Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of the consulting firm R.Politik, told Bloomberg.
Moreover, the upcoming regional elections should dispel any doubts about Putin’s authority. He has the wind in his sails in the polls. A survey by the Moscow-based Levada Institute shows that the average approval rating for Putin is a whopping 82 percent.
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